How long after the wedding until i have to update my name with social security?

I have heard there is a 5 year (or it might be 7 year) time frame in which you can change your name at the SS office with just your marriage license. After the 5-7 years you have to go through the court system. I am not sure if this is 100% accurate, but it's what I have been told. So you will have plenty of time.

I hyphenated my last name. Legally, I use my new hyphenated last name. But professionally I still call myself by my maiden name. Mostly because I am well established in my career and that is what everyone knows me by. However, a lot of our friends refer to me with just my new last name. Really, it does not matter what you call yourself, unless it is for legal reasons.

I work in a law office, and at my previous firm we had 2 lawyers who went by their maiden names for practicing, but used their changed names in their personal life. So I know that part can be done, and I know one of the lawyers said that her legal paperwork with the office was all under her married name, yet she practiced under her maiden name. So I'd inquire of your firm how to go about all of that so that you can still practice with your maiden name.